DRAUPADI XXXVII

   

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXXVII

The cause was Krishna

his mind was the source

the designer executor

the Rajasuya was his plot

to destroy monarchs cruel like

Jarasandh and others

who put the  chair above heads.

Krishna had asked Narada

to lie about Pandu, the king's

Father- what father? All

Kunti's children were born

outside Pandu's affective area -

Draupadi knew everything

when her sakha arrived

to send off the horse

of the yajna and to wish

Arjun all success in his

noble expedition.

 

So you are the Mastermind

the beginning and end of things

O' Sakha how delighted I am

to see you, my mind was

jammed by transitory clouds.

Krishna smiled, I came for you

my Sakhi to open the doors

for your tomorrow, for your

destiny which brought you here:

The Rajasuya will blow the conch

for the beginning of black white

inter mix of your future.

What do you say Sakha

your words play ball in mind

 there is no goalpost anywhere.

 

As you play along goalposts

appear in new forms, you may

kick the ball with all your might

the target will be missed

for you can only kick the ball.

 

The scorebook is kept unseen

therefore you kick, play think

persevere, that is your goal

what happens, who wins are illusions

the real thing is to play a lively game.

 

If I can't score why should I

play at all; is life a brawl

in the dark where the heroes

fall on their own knives?

 

No Sakhi, you are so wise

you should know your tomorrow

is always unborn, it is always

today, the silken threads get soiled

when you dream of a tapestry.

By your own deeds today.

Your vision clashes with another's

you cannot have unrivalled vision

but try to be yourself in the

Me'lee of imposed dreams:

I do nothing I too have  dreams

which my next today swallows

unseen jaws bite my efforts

to my bitter  failure and frustration.

Live in your today with yesterday's

dream of tomorrow to come as today.

 

You are forever an enigma

please tell me Sakha why this

Rajasuya is so important:

 

First the internecine fights

between the kings for land, water

wealth and other petty things

must end by a central power.

The Rrajchakraborty will control

the irrational temper of satraps

while guaranting their freedom

to rule without interference.

And the second reason for me

Is the death of Jarasandh the tyrant

he has imprisoned  ninety six

thousand kings to sacrifice them

to  enjoy immortal authority over

our fair domain Aryabarta. 

 

Krishna left, his unfading smile

lingered in Draupadi's heart

as she sauntered out.